Ripley Read - Update: I've read 47 out of 249 pages.

9:30 pm 18 August 2017
The Talented Mr. Ripley - Patricia Highsmith

I finished the first eight chapters on the train, and am enjoying meeting the characters all over again. But, I've been spoiled by the film because I actually see the actors in the roles. This is not a bad thing at all, by the way. The cast of the film seemed to really "get" the characters so far. What the film does not tell us is Tom's backstory. In the book this tries to make so much more sense (except,

no, no it does not make sense for what he is doing and is no justification, but it's Highsmith - we are supposed to understand and be sympathetic to Tom

(show spoiler)

). 

 

 

There is only one character I would like to make special mention of: Matt Damon's Tom Ripley's swimming trunks.

 

If you read Chapter 7 you will see my concern.

 

 

In the book, Highsmith describes them as "a black-and-yellow thing no bigger than a G-string". 

In the film we get: 

 

 

 

Who made the call to change the explicitly-mentioned unmentionables?

 

I bet Highsmith was having fun when she wrote the scene. It certainly made me laugh.

 

While the film version of Tom's bathing garment is pretty obnoxious, too, Tom walking about town in a black-and-yellow G-string thingy complented by his suit shoes just cracked me up!

(show spoiler)

 

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